Blogs

Our blogs provide fresh, impassioned and authoritative commentary and insight about the variety of civil-liberties issues that the ACLU of Michigan takes up each day in our courts, governments and communities.

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With the help of dedicated volunteers and community activists, the ACLU of Michigan works to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the individual rights and liberties that are guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

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The ACLU of Michigan is one of more than 50 affiliates in the United States. As such, we encourage you to know as much as possible about your civil liberties. Further, if you feel those liberties have been violated, we suggest you submit a complaint. We only accept complaints that occur within the State of Michigan. If your complaint arose in a state other than Michigan, you must contact the ACLU office in that state.

About Us

Since our founding in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union has led the fight to conserve our most precious liberties. Through the passion of our supporters, we have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 active members and supporters with 54 state affiliate offices as well as a legislative office in Washington, DC.

Immigrant Rights

The ACLU has been one of the nation's leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees and non-citizens, challenging unconstitutional laws and practices, countering the myths upon which many of these laws are based. The ACLU supports rights for all people within the United States and is committed to expanding and enforcing the civil liberties and civil rights of non-citizens and to combating public and private discrimination against immigrants.

Michigan Advocacy Groups Launch Border Profiling Hotline

DETROIT – Citing growing concerns over border patrol’s persistent targeting and ongoing detention of individuals at the border based on their race, ethnicity or religion, a coalition of concerned advocacy agencies in Michigan announced the creation of a border complaint hotline today in honor of International Human Rights Day. Individuals with complaints are encouraged to call 313.578.6832.

ACLU Challenges State's New Policy Denying Residents Licenses

2008-02-13 00:00:00

LANSING –The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan filed a lawsuit today in Ingham County Circuit Court challenging the Secretary of State’s unlawful denial of driver’s licenses to thousands of Michigan residents. The Secretary of State, relying on what she calls a flawed Attorney General opinion, has refused to issue a driver’s license to countless immigrants working and living in Michigan legally.

Michigan’s Proposed Immigration Plan Rife With Flaws, ACLU Says

2007-11-16 00:00:00

Lansing — The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan announced today its opposition to a planned Michigan House Democrats legislative package that forces business owners to document the legal status of their workers and would make it a felony to hire undocumented workers.

In a case that could open the doors to legal proceedings of detainees around the nation, the American Civil Liberties Union today filed a lawsuit on behalf of two local newspapers and Rep. John Conyers, D-MI, saying that a categorical block on public access to immigration hearings is unconstitutional and un-American.

Detroit - A federal judge ruled today that an immigration court did violate the due process of Rabih Haddad when closing a portion of his bond hearing last week without following procedure of finding facts on the record, according to the ACLU of Michigan. Though she determined that the hearing could be closed with respect to the testimony of one witness, she ruled that the immigration court failed to follow proper due process procedure in the future.

Secret Deportation Hearings Unconstitutional

2002-08-26 00:00:00

In a unanimous decision today, a federal appeals court struck down the government's blanket policy of conducting secret deportation hearings inpost-9/11 cases as a violation of the First Amendment. It is the first such decision by a federal appellate court anywhere in the country. Also read the press release from Congressman John Conyers, Jr.

Transcripts of Haddad Hearings Remain Out of Public's Reach

April 10, 2002 - Press Release

The transcripts to prior immigration hearings regarding Rabih Haddad remain out of the public’s reach, at least for the time being. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the portion of the district court’s order requiring the Government to turn over the documents is temporarily stayed pending further order of the Court of Appeals.

ACLU Victory Will Open Immigration Proceedings

2002-04-04 00:00:00

DETROIT – Freedom of speech and freedom of the press won out when a federal district judge ruled late today that it is unconstitutional to block public access to immigration hearings. The decision ensures that legal proceedings of detainees around the nation will not be conducted in secret unless there is a particularly pressing need for secrecy in a given case, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

In Nation of Immigrants, Plan to Deny Driver's Licenses Would be Injustice

2002-03-05 00:00:00

Since this nation's founding, more than 55 million immigrants from every continent have settled in the United States. In fact, with the exception of American Indians, everyone living in this country is either an immigrant or the descendent of voluntary or involuntary immigrants.

Government Prepares to Investigate Thousands

The Michigan ACLU announced today that pamphlets advising people about their rights when stopped or questioned by the FBI, police or INS officials are available in English, Spanish and Arabic.

"Know Your Rights: What to Do If You're Stopped by the Police, the FBI, the INS or the Customs Service" contains information for citizens and non-citizens alike and is intended for those who feel at risk of becoming innocent targets of a government investigation in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.